Safe City

The FBI says that Irvine is again the safest city in the nation with the lowest rate of violent crime for any city with a population of 250,000 or more, based on the Bureau’s 2016 data. That’s the 12th consecutive year Irvine has earned the Safest City accolade.

“The men and women of the Irvine Police Department are consummate professionals who time and again exceed expectations in their service to our community,” said Irvine Police Chief Mike Hamel. “The importance of the Irvine Police Department’s partnership with the community can’t be overstated, Hamel continued. “The dedication of our residents to participate in crime prevention efforts has been critically important to preserving the quality of life we have all come to appreciate.” ​What’s that you say? You read NextDoor and other online sources and it feels like Irvine isn’t as safe as it once was? So you doubt the FBI, in other words. To regain a sense of calm and carry on, we recommend reading a recent OC Register story titled “Is Irvine Becoming Less Safe?” The short answer is “no.” John Hipp, a criminology professor at UCI who studies crime in the city was quoted in the story: “I’ve heard people say it’s getting worse and there’s just no evidence of that,” he said. If, however, you enjoy a good fright, just scroll down to the comments at the end of the online version of the piece.

Smart Students

​Irvine also scored well on its standardized tests again this year, or at least its public school students did. Irvine Unified School District students ranked second highest in California for students meeting or exceeding mathematics and English language/literacy in recent scores, among districts the size of IUSD—25,000 or more students. It’s the third year the Common Core math and English exams have replaced STAR testing in 2015, and for the third year the IUSD scores outperformed both California and Orange County score averages (as one might expect). The tests were taken last spring, with students in grades three through eight and grade 11 participating. “There are so many reasons to be proud of our students,” said IUSD Board of Education President Ira Glasky. “These results are a testament to our collective efforts and the special partnership between our hardworking students, dedicated families and talented teachers and staff.” And of course there’s this caveat, which is of course correct: “Assessment scores should be recognized as only one measure when evaluating student learning; they provide some but not all information about a student’s knowledge and skills.”

Cool Cuban Cuisine

​One of the most anticipated restaurants to open in Irvine this year debuts Nov. 2: Habana, at Irvine Spectrum. Anticipated in part because it seems like it’s been under construction for years. The original Habana has been a mainstay of The Lab shopping center in Costa Mesa for some 20 years, offering a contemporary take on Cuban and Latin cuisine and cocktails. The new Irvine edition is a grand place, with two bars, three patios and 600 seats. There’s also going to be a walk-up bakery with pastries and signature coffee blends that opens at 7 a.m. every day but Sunday.

City Manager Moving On

​Sean Joyce, Irvine city manager since 2005, recently announced his plan to retire in February 2018.